The trophy design will appear at center court in San Antonio and New York for the first time since 2009, painted directly onto the hardwood.
2:44 PM
The NBA announced Sunday the court designs for the NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks, featuring the return of a large Larry O'Brien Trophy logo at center court for the first time since 2009.
Both the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio and Madison Square Garden in New York will display the jumbo-sized trophy painted below the teams' logos at center court. The logo will be painted directly onto the hardwood rather than applied as a sticker or displayed digitally.
The intention to restore the trophy to the finals court was announced in October, with the official unveiling occurring Sunday. The trophy had been removed from the court over concerns about player safety. Originally, the logo was applied as a sticker that could become slippery during play.
The move comes after fans expressed frustration during and after Game 1 of last year's NBA Finals between Oklahoma City and Indiana, noting the absence of traditional Finals branding on the court. The painted design addresses the safety concerns that led to the logo's removal nearly two decades ago by eliminating the slipping hazard associated with adhesive stickers.
The 2026 NBA Finals will mark the return of one of the league's most recognizable traditions, with the trophy logo serving as a centerpiece graphic on the hardwood for both venues hosting the championship series.
MSG family of companies will distribute 250 complimentary tickets for each of Games 3 and 4 through Garden of Dreams Foundation to address soaring ticket prices.
New York defeated Cleveland 130-93 Monday to advance. Fans celebrated outside MSG despite NYPD watch party restrictions; six were arrested.
San Antonio beat Oklahoma City 111-103 Saturday to advance to the Finals for the first time since 2014, setting up a matchup with New York beginning Wednesday.
The 18-year-old displayed the flag during the team's open-top bus celebration after winning their second consecutive Spanish league title.
A 21-metre golden statue of Lionel Messi in Kolkata, erected during his 2025 tour, is swaying in wind and will be taken down.
The UFC is building a temporary octagon-shaped cage on the White House South Lawn for a fight scheduled June 14, coinciding with the nation's 250th anniversary and President Trump's 80th birthday.
